History of Nashville, (Davidson County) Tennessee United States of America

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Biographies:

Joshua Soule, M.E. bishop, was born in Bristol, Maine, Aug. 1, 1781. He was licensed to preach in 1798, and traveled with a Methodist presiding elder as a "boy preacher." He was appointed presiding elder of the Maine district in 1804; proposed a plan for the general conference of delegates and was a delegate to the conferences of 1812 and 1816. He was book-agent and editor of the Methodist Magazine, 1816?20, was elected a bishop in 1820, but declined the election, being opposed to the election of presiding elders by the bishops. He was pastor of churches in New York and Baltimore, 1820?24; and was again elected bishop in 1824, serving till 1842. He was sent as a delegate from the United States to the British Wesleyan conference in 1842, and was a delegate to the conference held in New York in 1844, when a division of the church was caused by the disagreement of Bishop James O. Andrew and Bishop Soule, the two followings being known as the Methodist Episcopal church, north and south. Bishop Soule became senior bishop of the southern division, with his residence at Nashville, Tenn. He visited the general conference held at Pittsburg but was not officially recognized as a delegate. He retired from the active duties of his office in 1853, and died in Nashville, Tenn., March 6, 1867.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Edward Douglass White, governor of Louisiana, was born in Nashville, Tenn., in March, 1795; son of Judge James White. He removed with his parents to Attakapas Parish, La., in 1799, upon his father's appointment as judge of western Louisiana; attended the common schools, and was graduated from the University of Tennessee. He was admitted to the bar, and practised law in Donaldsonville, La. He was made judge of the city court, 1825; was a Whig representative from Louisiana in the 21st-23d congresses, 1899-34, resigning on November 15 of the latter year to become governor of the state, serving until 1838. He was returned to the 26th and 27th congresses, 1839-43, and subsequently retired to his sugar estate in La Fourche parish, La. He was married to a Miss Ringgold. He died at New Orleans, La., April 8, 1847.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Benjamin Franklin Cheatham, soldier, was born in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 20, 1820. After attending the public schools of Nashville he entered into business in Philadelphia, Pa., where he remained a year. He joined the U.S. army at the outbreak of the Mexican war, was made captain, and fought with distinction at the battles of Monterey and Cerro Gordo. After the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to Nashville and raised the 3rd Tennessee regiment, of which he was commissioned colonel. He took active part in the closing battles of the war, and was honorably discharged in July, 1848. In 1861 he organized the supply department for the western Confederate army, and in May was commissioned brigadier-general. On Nov. 7, 1861, he fought at the battle of Belmont as commander of three regiments. He was promoted major-general in 1862, and on December 31 commanded a division of Bragg's army at Murfreesboro. He was offered by President Grant an official position, which he declined. He served for several years as superintendent of the Tennessee prison, and in 1885 was appointed postmaster of Nashville. He died in Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 4, 1886.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John B. Dawson, representative, was born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1800. He was educated at Centre college, Ky., and settled in St. Francisville, La., where he was a planter, a judge of the parish court, a member of the state legislature, a militia general and a Democratic representative in the 27th and 28th congresses, 1841-45. He died at St. Francisville, La., June 26, 1845.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor